Flash-exposure structure for cameras



May 9, 1967 A. SCHIKS 3,313,215 FLASH-EXPOSURE STRUCTURE FOR CAMERASOriginal Filed Nov. 23, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ALB/\RT SCHIKS y 9, 1967 A. SCHIKS 3,318,215

FLASH-EXPOSURE STRUCTURE FOR CAMERAS Original Filed Nov. 23, 1962 3Sheets-Sheet Fig. 70

INVENTOR.

ALBART SCHIKS May 9, 1967 A. SCHIKS 3,318,215

FLASH-EXPOSURE STRUCTURE FOR CAMERAS Original Filed Nov. 23, 1962 3Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

ALBART SCHIKS United States Patent 3,318,215 FLASH-EXPOSURE STRUCTUREFOR CAMERAS Albart Schiks, Munich-Obermenzing, Germany, assignor to AgfaAktiengesellschaft, Leverkusen-Bayerwerk, Germany Continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 239,573, Nov. 23, 1962. This application Mar. 23,1966, Ser. No. 536,926 26 Claims. (Cl. 95-11.5)

The present application is a continuation of my application Ser. No.239,573, entitled, Flash-Exposure Structure for Cameras, filed Nov. 23,1962.

The present invention relates to cameras.

More particularly, the present invention relates to cameras capable ofmaking exposures with flash illumination.

With cameras of this type it is necessary to provide certain camerasettings in order to make a proper exposure Wit-h flash illumination.Thus, such settings are required not only to make a proper exposure of agiven subject subject which is at a certain distance from the camerawith flash illumination but also for the purpose of synchronizing theflash illumination with the shutter so that the illumination provided bythe flash will take place when the shutter is open. Very often theoperator of the camera will neglect to provide proper camera settingsrequired for an exposure with flash illumination, so that improperexposures are made under such circumstances.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide for a camera ofthe above type a structure which will determine the proper setting ofthe camera, at least in part, for an exposure with flash illumination,and in accordance with the invention the determination of the propersetting of the camera will take place either by a structure whichreminds the operator that he must make certain settings when using flashillumination or by automatically setting the camera to make a properexposure with flash illumination.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a structure ofthe above type which will operate in response to mounting on the cameraof a structure associated with the making of an exposure with flashillumination, such structure being either the insertion of a flash bulbinto a suitable receptacle, the insertion of a part of a cable into asuitable receptacle, or even the insertion of a foot of a flash assemblyinto a shoe which is carried by the camera.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide astructure of the above type which enables the operator to vary theparticular camera settings in accordance with a variable such as theparticular characteristics of a given flash bulb which is used to makethe exposure.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide astructure of the above type which is extremely simple to operate andwhich is also simple and reliable in its construction.

v With these objects in view the invention includes, in a camera, areceiving means for receiving at least part of a structure for making anexposure with flash illumination. A determining means cooperates withthe receiving means for determining at least in part the proper settingof the camera for making an exposure with flash illumination. Inaccordance with the invention this determining means is movable and iscompelled by the receiivng means to assume a predetermined positionbefore the receiving means can receive a part of the structure formaking an exposure with flash illumination, and the determining meanswhen in thispredetermined position determines at least in part thesetting of the camera required to make an exposture with flashillumination. The determining means when in this predetermined positiondetermines at least in part the camera setting required for making anexposure with flash illumination either by reminding the operator tomake certain camera settings or by automatically actuating camerastructure to make such settings.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a shoe which cooperates with astructure for determining a camera setting when an exposure is to bemade with flash illumination;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a structure ofthe type shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of a foot of a flash assembly, thefoot of FIG. 3 being adapted to cooperate with the structure shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of another embodimentof a foot and shoe construction with elements for determining camerasettings;

FIG. 5 shows the structure of FIG. 4 in a position different from thatshown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a foot of a flashassembly;

FIG. 7 is a framentary illustration of a further embodiment of astructure according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows the structure of FIG. 7 in a position dif ferent from thatshown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 fragmentarily illustrates a receptacle for receiving a flash bulbas well as structure which cooperates with flash bulbs for determiningcamera settings;

FIG. 10 shows how the structure of FIG. 9 is capable of cooperating witha flash bulb different from that of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows the structure of FIG. 9 in its environment in a camera,and FIG. 11 in addition shows structure which cooperates with theelements shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken along line 12-12 ofFIG. 11 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, it will be seenthat there is shown in FIG. 1 a shoe 1 which is carried by a camera andwhich is adapted to receive a foot which matingly slides into the shoe 1in the manner well known in the art and which is located at the lowerpart of a flash assembly, as is also well known in the art. Thus, theside edge portions of the foot are adapted to be received in the sidechannel portions 2 of the shoe 1. Thus, the shoe 1 forms a receivingmeans for receiving a part of the structure for providing an exposurewith flash illumination. The shoe 1 differs from conventional shoes inthat it is formed with an opening through which a blocking member 3projects, as indicated in FIG. 1. The elongated blocking member 3 isguided for vertical movement through the opening in the bottom wall ofthe shoe 1 shown in FIG. 1, and it will be noted that the blockingmember 3 is located in the path of movement of a foot into the shoe ofFIG. 1, so that as long as the blocking member 3 is in the positionillustrated in FIG. 1 the operator cannot mount the flash assembly onthe camera. In order to mount the flash assembly on the camera it isnecessary for the operator first to depress the movable blocking member3 downwardly in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1 so as toenable in this way the foot to be moved fully into the shoe 1. Themovable element 3 can be operatively connected to structure of thecamera which at least in part determines the setting thereof for makinga proper exposure with flash illumination, so that when the member 3 isdepressed in order to permit the foot to be received in the shoe thecamera will be automatically set at least in part to make a properexposure with flash illumination, and the manner in which the movablemember 3 can accomplish this result is referred to below. However, it isalso possible for the member 3 to determine the setting of the camera atleast in part for making a proper exposure with flash illumination byreminding the operator to set the camera properly, and in either ofthese cases it is clear that the member 3 forms a determining means fordetermining at least in part the camera setting required for a properexposure with flash illumination, and this determining means formed bythe member 3 is movable and is compelled by the receiving means when thereceiving means 1 receives the foot to assume a predetermined positionwhere the determining means 3 determines at least in part the setting ofthe camera required for making a proper exposure with flashillumination. For example, the depression of the member 3 to the extentrequired to enable the foot to be completely received in the shoe 1 maybe used for automatically setting the exposure time of the camera.

In the example of the invention which is illustrated in FIG. 2 thereceiving means formed by the shoe 1 has a somewhat longer opening intowhich a member 4 projects, this member 4 forming the determining meansof FIG. 2. The member 4 in this case is turnably mounted and presents anupper surface which is inclined as illustrated in FIG. 2. The foot 7shown in FIG. 3 is fixed by a pin 8 to the remainder of the flashassembly which is not illustrated, and this foot 7 is formed at itsunderside with a groove 6 which receives the member 4 of FIG. 2 when thefoot 7 is moved into the shoe 1 of FIG. 2. The sliding of the foot 7into the shoe 1 of FIG. 2 causes the horizontal surface of the groove 6at the underside of the shoe 7 to engage the slanted surface 5 of themember 4 and to turn the member 4 in the direction of the arrow shown inFIG. 2 so that when the foot 7 is in the shoe 1 of FIG. 2 the member 4is necessarily in a predetermined position which will automaticallyprovide a given setting of the exposure time, for example, or which willindicate to the operator that it is necessary to provide a certainsetting.

It should be noted that the depth of the groove 6 can be chosen so as toprovide a given position for the member 4 of FIG. 2 when the foot 7 isin the shoe 1 of FIG. 2, and this will result, for example, in theautomatic provision of a specific camera setting such as its exposuretime. Thus, in the case of FIGS. 2 and 3 also it is clear that the shoe1 forms a receiving means while the member 4 forms a movable determiningmeans which is compelled to assume a predetermined position when thereceiving means 1 receives the foot 7 so that the determing means 4 bybeing placed in this predetermined position will determine at least inpart the proper setting of the camera to provide an exposure with flashillumination.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and5, the parts cooperate in a manner similar to a key and lock. In thiscase the shoe 1 which is carried by the camera is formed with aplurality of elongated slots 12 which extend in the direction which thefoot 13 is moved when the foot is inserted into the shoe 1 with the sideedges of the foot slidably received in the side channel portions 2 ofthe shoe 1 shown in FIGS. 4 and S. Pins 9, 10 and 11 respectivelyproject upwardly through the slots 12 formed in the shoe 1, and thesepins also extend through slots formed in the wall of the camera housingwhich carries the shoe 1, and the horizontal movement of the pins 9-11respectively along the slots (12 automatically actuates structure of thecamera which sets the latter to provide an exposure which will be properfor flash illumination. The foot 13 which is only fragmentarilyillustrated is formed at its edge which is directed toward the pins 9-11with elongated notches 14-16 of different lengths, and these notches arerespectively aligned with the slots 12 so as to receive therein the pins9-11. Thus, the structure resembles a key and lock arrangement. When thefoot 13 is moved in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4 into theshoe 1, the pins 9-11 will be received in the notches 114-16 and thecontinued movement of the foot 13 into the shoe 1 will place the innerends of the notches 14-..16 in engagement with the pins 9-11. Thecontinued movement of the foot 13 into the shoe 1 until the foot 13becomes located in its final position shown in FIG. 5 will cause theinner ends of the notches 14-16 to move the pins 9-1'1 respectivelyalong the slots 12 so that these pins will assume the positionsindicated in FIG. 5. These pins 9-11 are operatively connected to thecamera structure which sets, for example, the exposure time, theaperture, and the distance between the subject and the camera, so thatwith this construction all of these settings will be automatically madeupon introduction of the foot 13 into the shoe 1. Thus, in theembodiment of FIGS. '4 and 5 also the shoe 1 forms a receiving means forreceiving a part of the structure for making an exposure with flashillumination, and the pins 9-11 form a determining means which ismovable and which necessarily assumes a predetermined position when thefoot 13 is received in the receiving means 1, so that the determiningmeans 9-1'1 can in this way determine automatically the camera settingrequired to make a proper exposure with the light derived from flashillumination.

While variations are possible in the arrangement shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,in all cases the slots, grooves, or the like of the foot 13 willcooperate with a movable element which is moved during insertion of thefoot 13 into the shoe 11 for determining at least in part the setting ofthe camera required for a proper exposure with flash illumination.

According to the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated inFIG. 6 the foot 17 is turnably carried by the pin 18 which is fixed tothe underside of the flash assembly. The several side edges of the foot17 are respectively formed with notches 19-22 which are of differentlengths, and the foot 17 is adapted to cooperate with a shoe similar tothat of FIGS. 4 and 5 but provided with only one pin movable along asingle slot. Thus, by turning the foot 17 with respect to the shaft 18it is possible to present to the pin which projects into the shoe aselected one of the notches 19-22, so that in accordance with theselected notch the pin which projects into the shoe will be placed in apredetermined position when the foot is received in the shoe. The foot17 carries at its upper face in alignment with the inner ends of thenotches 19-22 symbols 23 indicating, for example, characteristics ofdiiferent flash lamps, so that in accordance with the particular type offlash lamp which is to be used the operator will select a correspondingnotch and place it in a position to actuate the pin projecting into theshoe so that in this way the setting will be automatically made inaccordance with a selected variable such as the type of flash lamp.

According to the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8, the receiving means, instead of being in the form of ashoe, is in the form of a wall portion 24 of the camera which is formedwith an opening 25 forming a connection for an end of an electricalcable of the fl-ash assembly. Behind the wall 24 is located a plate 26which in the position of FIG. 7 extends across the opening 25 so as toprevent the cable from being inserted into this opening and thus in thisway it will not be possible for the operator to connect the cable to thecamera with the position of the parts shown in FIG. 7. The plate 26fixedly carries a pin 28 which projects through an elongated slot 27formed in the wall 24, and the plate 26 cooperates with any suitableguides at the rear of the wall 24 so as to be guided for shiftingmovement between the positions indicated in FIGS] and 8. Thus, bygrasping the pin 28 the operator can shift the plate 26, as indicated bythe double-headed arrows in FIGS. 7 and 8 between the positionsindicated in FIGS. 7

and 8, and it will be noted that when the operator shifts the plate 26from the position of FIG. 7 to that of FIG. 8 the plate 26 will bedisplaced from the opening 25 so that in the position of FIG. 8 theoperator can indeed connect the cable to the camera. In this case alsothe shifting of the plate 26 from the position of FIG. 7 to that of FIG.8 can be used for automatically setting at least in part the camera tomake a proper exposure with flash illumination or in this case also thenecessity of movement of the plate 26 from the position of FIG. 7 tothat of FIG. 8 can be used simply to remind the operator that it isnecessary to make certain settings required for flash illumination.Thus, in the case of FIGS. 7 and 8 also the wall 24 with its opening 25forms a receiving means for receiving a part of the camera structureused for making an exposure with flash illumination, and the shiftableplate 26 forms a movable determining means which determines at least inpart the setting of the camera, either by reminding the operator to makecertain settings or by actually making certain settings automatically,and it is apparent from FIGS. 7 and 8 that the movable determining means26 is compelled by the receiving means 24, 25 to assume a predeterminedposition shown in FIG. 8 when the receiving means 24, 25 receives thecable.

FIGS. 9 and illustrate part of the structure of a camera which has abuilt-in flash assembly forming a permanent part of the camera. Thus, inthe case of FIGS. 9 and 10 a portion of the camera forms the receptacle29 for receiving the flash bulb 30 in the case of FIG. 9, and thus thereceptacle 29 of FIG. 9 forms a receiving means for receiving part ofthe structure for making an exposure with flash illumination. As isapparent from FIG. 9 the receptacle 29 is formed with a bayonet slotwhich receives a pin fixed to and projecting from the base 32 of thelamp 30, so that in this way the lamp 30 may be removably connected intothe receptacle 29. As is indicated at the upper right hand portion ofFIG. 9 there is also located in the receptacle 29 a leaf spring whichengages the exterior surface of the base 32 for forming part of theelectrical circuit for igniting the flash lamp 30. The electricalcircuit also includes an elongated rod 33 which is supported for axialshifting movement as indicated by the double-headed arrow shown in FIG.9 and which engages the electrical element at the rear end of the lamp30, in the manner shown in FIG. 9, so that when the lamp 30 isintroduced into the receptacle 29 the rod 33 which is spring-urged tothe right, as viewed in FIG. 9, will necessarily be displaced to theleft and will assume a predetermined position, this positioning of therod 33 resulting in automatic setting of the camera in a mannerdescribed below. In addition, there is also an elongated rod 34 guidedfor axial movement and engaged by the lamp 30 so as to be placed in apredetermined position by the lamp 30 when the latter is introduced intothe receptacle 29, and thus with the structure of FIG. 9 the rods 33 and34 are automatically placed in predetermined positions for determiningautomatically the setting of the camera, at least in part, whenever abulb 30 is introduced into the receptacle 29. Therefore, in the case ofFIG. 9 also the camera is provided wtih a receiving means 29 forreceiving a part of the structure for providing an exposure with flashillumination, and the elements 33 and 34 form a determining means fordetermining at least in part the setting of the camera required formaking an exposure with flash illumination, and it is also clear thatthe determining means 33, 34 is movable and necessarily assumes apredetermined position when the receiving means 29 receives the lamp 30,as indicated in FIG. 9.

It will be noted from FIGS. 9 and 10 that the rod 33 is located in thehollow interior 31 of the receptacle 29 while the rod 34 is located inan elongated notch or slot 35 formed in the receptacle 29, this notch orslot 35 forming a guide for the elongated rod 34.

The structure of FIG. 10 is identical with that of FIG. 9 except thatFIG. 10 illustrates how a flash lamp 36 considerably smaller than thelamp 30 is capable of being used with the construction of the invention.In this case an adapter means 37 is interposed between the lamp and thereceptacle 29. The adapter means 37 is in the form of a tube which isformed with a bayonet slot for removably holding the lamp 36 in theillustrated position in the adapter 37, and this adapter 37 itself iselectrically conductive and carries a pin which is received in thebayonet slot of the receptacle 29. The adapter 37 is shown in FIG. 10carrying the lamp 36 and introduced part of the way into the receptacle29. When the adapter 37 is all the way in the receptacle 29 it will havethe position of the base 32 of the lamp 30 shown in FIG. 9. It will benoted that because of the tubular construction of the adapter 37 the rod33 extends into the adapter for engaging the inner end of the lamp 36and making electrical contact therewith. Thus, with the construction ofFIG. 10 while the rod 34 may assume the same position as the rod 34 ofFIG. 9 when the adapter 37 has been introduced all the way into thereceptacle 29, the rod 33 will, on the other hand, have a differentposition from that shown in FIG. 9 since the rod 33 engages the lamp 36at a point which 'is displaced to the right from the point of engagementbetween the rod 33 and the lamp 30 shown in FIG. 9, so that thedifferent construction of the lamp shown in FIG. 10 will necessarilylocate the rod 33 in a different position providing a difierent settingwhich is required in accordance with the particular characteristics ofthe lamp 36 of FIG. 10.

Of course, it is also possible to provide for the rod 34 a positiondifferent from that of FIG. 9 simply by choosing an appropriate lengthfor the adapter 37 particularly at the portion thereof which engages therod 34.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the environment in which the structure ofFIGS. 9 and 10 is located. As may be seen from FIG. 11 the receptacle 29is located at the upper part of the camera illustrated in FIG. 11, andthe end of the rod 33 distant from the receptacle 29 engages anextension 40 which is fixed to the focusing member 41 which is supportedfor rotation about the optical axis and which determines the setting ofthe objective in accordance with the distance between the subject andthe camera. Thus, the introduction of the lamp into the receptacle 29will cause the rod 33 to be displaced downwardly so that the bottom endof the rod 33 will engage and turn the extension 40 together with thefocusing means 41 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 11, andthus the camera will automatically be provided with a given distancesetting in accordance with the characteristics of the lamp. As may beseen from FIG. 11, there is connected to the rotary distance-settingmeans 41 a plate 42 located in a plane normal to the optical axis andcarrying the extension 40, and the outer edge of the sector-shaped plate42 is formed with a series of notches 43 forming part of a releasabledetent structure for releasably holding the rotary focusing means 41 ingiven angular positions. The outer end of the extension 40 is fixed toone end of a spring 44 whose opposite end is connected to a stationarypart of the camera, so that the spring 44 urges the extension 40' aswell as the rotary focusing means 41 and the plate 42 between theextension 40 and the focusing means 41 to turn in the direction of thearrow Z of- FIG. 11, and thus the spring 44 acts to urge the rod 33upwardly in the direction of the arrow y shown in FIG. 11. Therefore,whenever the operator introduces a lamp into the receptacle 29 the rod33 is displaced by the lamp in opposition to the spring 44 to a positionwhich is determined by the characteristics of the lamp. When there is nolamp in the receptacle 29 the spring 44 will locate the focusing means41 in a position providing a setting of 1 meter as the distance betweenthe subject and the camera, and of course the rod 33 will also assume acertain position at this time. The rod 33 carries a pin 45 whichdisplaces a leaf spring 46 to the position shown in FIG. 11 when the rod33 is moved in opposition to' the spring 44 in a direction opposite tothat indicated by the arrow y upon introduction of a flash lamp into thereceptacle 29. However, when the rod 33 is displaced in the direction ofthe arrow y upon removal of a lamp from the receptacle 29 the pin 45moves upwardly to a position where it no longer retains the leaf spring46 in the position shown in FIG. 11, and thus the end 46a of the leafspring can now cooperate with the detent notches 43 and will at thistime enter the lowermost notch 43 which provides the setting for adistance of 1 meter between the subject and the camera. As is shown inFIG. 2, a manually-engageable ring 47 is fixed to the distance-settingmeans 41 for turning the latter, and when there is no bulb in thereceptacle 29 so that the pin 45 of the rod 33 is displaced to aposition out of engagement with the spring 46, the operator can manuallyturn the setting means 41 to locate a selected notch 43 in engagementwith the end 46a of the spring 46 to manually set the distance betweenthe subject and the camera.

When a smaller lamp, such as that shown in FIG. 10, is received in thereceptacle 29 the rod 33 is displaced in the direction opposite to thatindicated by the arrow y through a lesser distance than that incidatedin FIG. 11 so that the extension 40 will not be turned through as largean angle as in the case of FIG. 11, and thus with the smaller lamp adistance setting of, for example, 3 meters will be providedautomatically. As is indicated in FIG. 11 the setting provided by thelarger lamp, corresponding to that of FIG. 9, is meters, so that thesmaller lamp automatically provides a smaller distance setting.

The structure illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 also includes anexposure-time setting means 48 which can be manually turned when theoperator engages the fingerpiece 49 fixed to the rotary exposure-timesetting means 48 and accessible to the operator. However, the elongatedrod 34 is also capable of determining the angular position of the means48 so as to determine the exposure time. The exposure time setting means48 is capable of providing, for example, exposure times of A or .sec. Inthe position of the parts shown in FIG. 11 the exposure-time settingmeans 48 has been positioned by the rod 34 which engages an extension 50fixed to and extending from the ring 48 so as to cause the springymember 51 to enter at its free end the notch 52 which provides anexposure time of sec. The downward movement of the rod 34 duringintroduction of the lamp causes the lower end of the rod 34 to engagethe extension 50 and turn the latter together with the ring 48 in adirection opposite to that indicated by the arrow Z so as to bring thenotch 52 into alignment with the free end of the spring 51 whichtogether with the notches 52 and 53 provides a releasable detentmechanism. When there is no lamp in the receptacle 29 the operator canof course manually turn the ring 48 in the direction of the arrow Z byengaging the finger piece 49 so as to bring the notch 53 into alignmentwith the free end of the spring 51, and in this way an exposure time of,4 sec. can be provided. Thus, with this arrangement where the rod 34will always be displaced to the same position with the bulbs of FIGS. 9and there will be provided in both cases automatically an exposure timeof sec., while of course the distance setting will be different asdescribed above, and it is to be noted that if the exposure time isalready set to provide an exposure of sec. the exposure-time settingmeans 48 will of course not be displaced from this position.

FIG. 11 shows the contact spring '54 which engages the sleeve at thebase of the lamp and which is connected by the electrical conductor 55with one end of a condenser 56 the other end of which is electricallyconnected with a battery 57 as well as with a conductor 58 which iselectrically connected to the ignition switch 59 in the shutter. Theother contact of the ignition switch 59 is connected through a conductor60 with a loading resistance 61 through an electrical conductor 62 inwhich the resistance 61 is located, and of course the conductor 62 isconnected also to the battery 57 as shown in FIG. 11. The conductor 60is also connected through the conductor 63 with the spring 46 which iscarried by a mounting which is electrically insulated and the insulatedspring 46 when the lamp is in the receptacle 29 engages the pin 45 whichis electrically conductive and which is carried by the electricallyconductive rod 33, so that in this way when the shutter in a known waycloses the switch 59 the circuit will be completed through the lamp inorder to ignite the lamp and create the flash.

Of course, the movable member 3 of FIG. 1 may be connected to an elementsuch as the rod 33 for making an automatic setting of the distance inthe manner shown in FIG. 11, or the member 3 may be connected to anelement such as the rod 34 so as to automatically set the exposure timewhen the member 3 of FIG. 1 is depressed, and the same is true of theembodiment of FIG. 2 where the turnable member 4 may have at itsunderside a camming surface engaging the upper end of a rod such as therod 34 or the rod 33, so that in this way the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and2 may make automatic settings. The same applies to the embodimentofFIGS. 4 and 5. The pins 9-11 may be respectively fixed to racks guidedfor horizontal movement and respectively meshing with gears which turnduring shifting of the racks and which are coaxially fixed to camsengaging the upper ends of elements such as the rods 33 and 34, so thatthe camera may be automatically set with such a construction. Of course,the third element of FIG. 4- can be connected to a rod similar to therod 34, for example, but cooperating with structure for automaticallysetting the diaphragm of the camera. Thus, with the embodiment of FIGS.4 and 5 it is possible to automatically set the diaphragm, the exposuretime, and the distance.

It should be noted that although the description above refers to flashlamps of the type which are ignited and replaced after each exposure,the invention is equally applicable to use with electronic flashstructures where one lamp is used repeatedly. Moreover, as is apparentfrom the above description the structure of the invention can be usedeither with flash assemblies which are removably connected to the cameraor with built-in flash assemblies.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofcameras differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied inflash structures for cameras, it is not intended to be limited to thedetails shown, since various modifications and structural changes may bemade without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a camera, in combination, a camera housing having a top face;setting means for setting one of the exposure factors, said settingmeans arranged in said camera housing and adapted to be in differentsetting positions corresponding to different values of said exposuredetermining factors; receiving means in said top face of said camerahousing for receiving an illuminating arrangement, said illuminatingarrangement insertable into said receiving means by linear movement inan axial direction normal to said top face of said camera housing;

and anv actuating member mounted in said camera housing movable also insaid axial direction normal to said top face of said camera housingbetween an inoperative position and an axially spaced operated positionand having an actuated portion extending into the path of saidilluminating arrangement so as to be moved thereby upon insertion ofsaid illuminating arrangement into said receiving means in said top faceof said camera housing from said inoperative to said axially spacedoperated position thereof, and having also an actuating portion thereofcooperating with said setting means so as to influence movement of saidsetting means between said setting posi tions thereof by movementbetween said inoperative and operated positions upon insertion of saidilluminating arrangement in said receiving upon insertion of said flasharrangement into said receiving means and removal of said illuminatingarrangementtherefrom, respectively,

2. In a camera according to claim 1, further comprising spring meanspermanently tending to move said actuating member from said operatedinto said inoperative position thereof.

3. In a camera according to claim 2 further comprisingactuating meansamounted on said actuating member, and additional spring means carriedby said housing and cooperating with said actuating means and with saidsetting means for influencing the operation of said setting means. 7

4. A camera according to claim 3 wherein said additional spring meansincludes a springy portion movable in a direction transverse to saiddirection of movement of said actuating member.

5.v In a camera according to claim 2, said spring means being mounted atone end on said camera housing and having a portion spaced from said oneend and cooperating with said actuating member for permanently biasingsaid actuating member from said operated into said inoperative positionthereof.

6. In a camera according to claim 1, said housing having a partitionwall arranged parallel to said top face of said housing and an openingin said partition wall, said receiving means arranged coaxially withsaid opening and said actuating member being rod-shaped and passingthrough said opening guided therein.

7. Ina camera according to claim 1, said housing having two wallportions spaced from each other and spaced from said top face of saidcamera housing and each provided with an opening, said openings beingaligned in a direction normal to said top face of said camera housingand said actuating member being elongated and passing through and guidedin both of. said openings.

8. In a camera, in combination, a camera housing having a top face;setting means for setting one of the exposure factors, said settingmeans arranged in said camera housing and adapted to be in differentsetting positions corresponding to different values of said exposuredetermining factors; receiving means in said top face of said camerahousing and having a substantiallyvcircular opening for receiving anilluminating arrangement, said illurninating arrangement having asubstantially cylindrical socket portion insertable into said receivingmeans by movement in a direction normal to said top face of said camerahousing; and an actuating member mounted in said camera housing movablealso in a direction normal to said top face of said camera housing andhaving an actuated portion extending into the path of said illuminatingarrangement so as to be moved thereby upon insertion of saidilluminating arrangementinto said receiving 7 means in said 'top face ofsaid camera housing, and

having also an actuating portion thereof cooperating with said settingmeans so as to influence movement of said setting means between saidsetting positions thereof upon insertion of said illuminatingarrangement into said receiving means and removal of said illuminatingarrangement therefrom, respectively.

9. In a camera according to claim 8 further compris- 10 ing a laterallyextending projection on said cylindrical socket portion of saidilluminating arrangement; and engaging means on said housing adapted toengage and hold said illuminating arrangement in inserted positionthereof, said illuminating arrangement being detachable from saidengaging means by movement relative thereto.

10. In a camera according to claim 1, further comprising a pair ofaligned guide opening means spaced from each other and from said topface, said pair of guide opening means being aligned also with saidreceiving means and adapted to guide said actuating member for axialmovement thereof in said direction normal to said top face of saidcamera housing.

11. In a camera, in combination, a camera housing having a top face;setting means for setting one of the exposure factors, said settingmeans arranged in said camera housing and adapted to be in differentsetting positions corresponding to different values of said exposuredetermining factor; receiving means in said top face of said camerahousing for receiving an illuminating arrangement, said illuminatingarrangement insertable into said receiving means by movement in adirection normal to said top face of said camera housing; and anoperating rod member mounted in said camera housing movable also in adirection normal to said top face of said camera housing and having anactuated portion at its upper end including a laterally extendingprojection extending into the path of said illuminating arrangement soas to be moved thereby upon insertion of said illuminating arrangementinto said receiving means in said top face of said camera housing, andhaving also an actuating portion thereof cooperating with said settingmeans so as to influence movement of said setting means between saidsetting positions thereof upon insertion of said illuminatingarrangement into said receiving means and removal of said illuminatingarrangement therefrom, respectively.

12. In a camera according to claim 9, said laterally extendingprojection having an engaging face located substantially parallel tosaid top face and adapted to engage a corresponding portion of theilluminating arrangement.

13. In a camera according to claim 1, wherein said actuating member isrod-shaped and is movable in response to insertion of an illuminatingarrangement into said receiving means between an inoperative positionprojecting into the path of said illuminating arrangement and an axiallyspaced operated position, and further comprising spring meanspermanently tending to move said actuating member from said operatedinto said inoperative position thereof, and releasable locking meansprovided on said housing and adapted to engage said illuminatingarrangement for holding the same in inserted position thereof againstthe bias of said spring means.

14. In a camera according to claim 1 wherein said actuating member isrod-shaped and is axially movable in said direction normal to said topface of said camera housing, said housing including guide means forguiding said actuating member for movement in said direction.

15. In a camera according to claim 14 wherein said elongated actuatingmember has a first end portion constituting said actuated portion and asecond end portion spaced from said first end portion, said camerafurther comprising spring means cooperating with said second end portonfor permanently biasing said actuating member in a direction from saidsecond toward said first end portion thereof.

16. In a camera according to claim 15 further comprising second springmeans having an end portion mounted on said housing at a locationlaterally spaced from said elongated actuating member, said secondspring means including a springy portion movable in a directiontransverse to the direction of movement of said actuating member.

17. In a camera according to claim 16, said actuating portion of saidactuating member including lateral projection means, said projectionmeans cooperating with said second spring means for moving said springyportion in said transverse direction in response to axial movement ofsaid actuating member.

18. In a camera according to claim 1 further comprising spring meanscooperating with said setting means, said actuating portion comprisingactuating means mounted on said actuating member and cooperating withsaid spring means for influencing operation of said setting means independence upon the position of said actuating member.

19. In a camera, in combination, setting means having a plurality ofsetting positions; actuating means for actuating said setting means andhaving an actuating portion arranged to normally assume an inactivecondition and adapted to be placed into diiferent actuated conditions ineach of which said actuating means moves said setting means into adifferent one of said setting positions thereof; normal operating meansfor moving said setting means into any desired one of said settingposition when said actuating portion of said actuating means is in saidinactive condition thereof; receiving means arranged in the region ofsaid actuating portion of said actuating means adapted to receive anilluminating arrangement having an operating portion which, uponinsertion of said illuminating arrangement into said receiving meanswill shift said actuating portion of said actuating means from saidinactive condition into a predetermined one of said different actuatedconditions depending upon its specific characteristics, whereby saidactuating means will cause said setting means to move into thecorresponding setting position irrespective of the setting positiondetermined by said manual operating means; and means for automaticallyreturning said actuating portion of said actuating means to saidinactive condition thereof upon removal of said illuminating arrangementfrom said receiving means.

20. In a camera according to claim 18, said actuating portion of saidactuating means having an actuate-d position corresponding to each ofsaid different actuated conditions thereof so that upon insertion ofsaid illuminating arrangement into said receiving means, said operatingportion of said illuminating arrangement will engage said actuatingportion of said actuating means and depending upon its specificcharacteristics, move said actuating means from its inactive positioninto the corresponding actuated position thus moving said setting meansinto the corresponding set-ting position, said means for automaticallyreturning said actuating portion of said actuating means to its inactiveposition including biasing means.

21. An arrangement as set forth in claim 20 wherein said receiving meansinclude receptacle means for receiving an illuminating bulb, saidactuating means comprising an elongated rod having an actuating portionextending into said receptacle means and displaced by a bulb insertedinto said receptacle means to a position determined by thecharacteristics of the bulb whereby the camera will be automatically setat least in part by insertion of a bulb into said receptacle means formaking a proper exposure with bulb illumination, said arrangementfurther comprising adapter means received in said receptacle means andcarrying a relatively small bulb, said adapter means enabling said smallbulbs to be received in said receptacle means while providing nodisturbance in the actuation by such a small bulb of said rod foractuating said setting means to provide a setting which is proper forthe particular bulb.

22. In a camera-flash-illuminating arrangement, in combination, a camerahousing; setting means arranged in said camera housing and having aplurality of setting positions; actuating means for actuating saidsetting means and having an actuating portion accessible from outside ofsaid camera housing, said actuating portion being arranged to normallyassume an inactive position and adapted to be moved into dilferentactuating positions in 12 each of which said actuating means moves saidsetting means into a different one of said setting positions thereof;manual operating means for moving saidsetting means into any desired oneof said setting position when said actuating portion of said actuatingmeans is in said inactive position thereof; receiving meanslocated onsaid camera housing in the region of said actuating portion of saidactuating means; a set of illuminating arrangements each having anoperatingportion with difierent operating characteristics, saidilluminating arrangements adapted to be alternatively inserted in saidreceiving means with the operating portion of the inserted illuminatingarrangement engaging said actuating portion of said actuating means andmoving the same from said inactive position into a predetermined one ofthe actuating positions thereof depending upon the particular operatingcharacteristics of the operating means of the respective illuminatingarrangement inserted; and biasing means arranged to automatically returnsaid actuting portion of said actuating means to said inactive positionthereof upon removal of said illuminating arrangement from saidreceiving means.

23. In a camera, in combination, a shoe carried by the camera and a footslidably receivable in said shoe, said foot forming part of anilluminating assembly and being movable with respect to said shoe in agiven direction during movement of said foot into said shoe, said shoebeing formed with at least one elongated slot extending in saiddirection and said foot being formed with a control portion located andmovable within said shoe; and an elongated movable actuating memberhaving an actuating portion extending through said slot into said shoeto be engaged within said shoe by said control portion so as to be movedto a predetermined position with respect to said shoe when said foot isreceived therein, said movable actuating member forming part of. a meansfor automatically setting the camera at least in part for making aproper exposure with illuminating illumination.

24. In'a camera according to claim 23, said control 7 portion comprisingan elongated notch aligned with said slot and also extending in saiddirection, said actuating member being in the form of an elongated pinextending through saidslot to be received in said notch and engaged byan end thereof to be moved to said predetermined position, said pinforming part of said means for automatically setting the camera.

25. In a camera according to claim 24, said foot having a plurality ofside edge portions and being formed with a plurality of notchesextendinginwardly from said side edge portions, respectively, and beingof different lengths, and means supporting said foot for turningmovement to present a selected notch to said pin for determining theposition of the latter in accordance with the selected notch, wherebysaid pin will be automatically placed in a proper position for making aproper exposure with artificial illumination according to a selectedvalue of a given variable such as where said slots respectivelycorrespond to different types of illuminating bulbs and where the slotpresented to said pin corresponds to the particular type of illuminatingbulb.

. 26. In a camera, in combination, a camera housing having a top face;setting means or setting one of the exposure factors, said setting meansarranged in said camera housing and adapted to be in different settingpositions corresponding to different values of said exposure determiningfactors; receiving means in said top face of said camera housing forreceiving an illuminating arrangement, said illuminating arrangementinsertable into said receiving means by movement in a direction normalto said top face of said camera housing; an actuating member mounted insaid camera housing movable also in a direction normal to said top faceof said camera housing and having an actuated portion extending into thepath of said illuminating arrangement so as to be moved thereby uponinsertion of said illuminating arrangement into said receiving means insaid top face of said camera housing, and having also an actuatingportion thereof cooperating With said setting means so as to influencemovement of said setting means between said setting positions thereofupon insertion of said illuminating arrangement into said receivingmeans and removal of said illuminating arrangement therefrom,respectively; spring means cooperating with said setting means; andactuating means mounted on said actuating member and cooperating withsaid spring means for influencing operation of said setting means independence upon the position of said actuating member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,749,819 6/1956Weiss 9511.5 3,005,392 10/1961 Kaden 95-11.5 3,051,066 '8/196'2 Lareau95-11.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 930,434 7/ 1955 Germany.

10 JOHN M. HORAN, Primary Examiner.

NQRTON ANSI-IER, Examiner.

Patent No. 3,318 ,215 May 9 1967 Albert Schiks t error appears in theabove identified It is certified the etent are hereby corrected aspatent and that said Letters P shown below:

Column 9, line 15, "flash" should read illuminating Signed and sealedthis 10th day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

1. IN A CAMERA, IN COMBINATION, A CAMERA HOUSING HAVING A TOP FACE;SETTING MEANS FOR SETTING ONE OF THE EXPOSURE FACTORS, SAID SETTINGMEANS ARRANGED IN SAID CAMERA HOUSING AND ADAPTED TO BE IN DIFFERENTSETTING POSITIONS CORRESPONDING TO DIFFERENT VALUES OF SAID EXPOSUREDETERMINING FACTORS; RECEIVING MEANS IN SAID TOP FACE OF SAID CAMERAHOUSING FOR RECEIVING AN ILLUMINATING ARRANGEMENT, SAID ILLUMINATINGARRANGEMENT INSERTABLE INTO SAID RECEIVING MEANS BY LINEAR MOVEMENT INAN AXIAL DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID TOP FACE OF SAID CAMERA HOUSING; ANDAN ACTUATING MEMBER MOUNTED IN SAID CAMERA HOUSING MOVABLE ALSO IN SAIDAXIAL DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID TOP FACE OF SAID CAMERA HOUSING BETWEENAN INOPERATIVE POSITION AND AN AXIALLY SPACED OPERATED POSITION ANDHAVING AN ACTUATED PORTION EXTENDING INTO THE PATH OF SAID ILLUMINATINGARRANGEMENT SO AS TO BE MOVED THEREBY UPON